The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-01
His HOLINESS POPE LEO
HIS LIFE, HIS APPEARANCE
AND HIS SPEECH.
His Ambition Is to Crown His
Career With the Memory
Of Great Pope.

F~~ND~FNNS
of general interest: Photographic
tradition lends to Leo XIII a sar-
donical smile; and the irreverent
have even called it Voltairian. The
priests who don't belong to Rome
speak of him in the freedom of their
sermon as the Pope Voltaire. A
French writer consecrated Voltaire
King. Ii it be true that Voltaire
rather divided the honors of the
throne with Louis XIV or with
Frederick the Great, it cannot be
said that he has yet been elevated to
the honor of the tiara. The photo
graphs are deceptive. Louis XIII
is not in the least like Voltaire, and
his broad smile has nothing hideous
about it. 1t is, on the con-
trary, very benevolent, uuctuous
and royal. The lips of the Pope dis
til the honey of academic eloquence
somewhat slowly, little bounded,
but always perfumed by the bios
SONS of Theirs banks-and not the
bile of Ferney, the vinegar of refined
malice, the bon mots that sound like
cannon shot. No one quotes from
Leo XIII single one Of those lively,
biting, sprightly phrases which be-
jeweled the conversation of Plus TX.
In vain do we seek in his public dis
courses for an unexpected antithesis,
an ingenious play upon words, bright
image. All is measured, solemn,
oratorical. The political imitation,
which, according to the judgment of
the connoisseurs, detracts somewhat
from the superior quality of his
Latin style, is drawn from pure and
tranquil classical sources. He has
sought after the language, not for
wit. The Pope's private converse
ton resembles his speeches. The
same wisdom, the same cold JUNCTION,
the same care to ornament by the
majesty of form the simplicity of the
matter are observable. But, behind
this seeming mediocrity there is a
policy. Far less spiritual than Vol
taire, Leo XIII appears much strong
er in politics and in many other
things. The Pope's appearance is
not less solemn than his speech.
His form, which is so spare that he
appears much taller than he really
is, disappears entirely beneath rich
stuffs and in the fol1s of his heavy
red mantle; his long arms tremu-
lousy raise these cumbrous draper
ries, and, from a habit which has,
during course of his already long
pontifcate, become second nature,
they are always half extended for the
bestowal of an ample benediction. 1t
is pititul to see the poor bloodless
hands imprisoned in little white silk
mittens which are too small. These
are not fat replete hands like those
of prelates contented with their lot,
as those Of Sixtus v must. have
been, nor those of a soldier like
julius II; they are the nervous
hands of the writer, artist, thinker.
They are nearly always cold, colder
than the great sapphire garnished
with brilliants which they offer to the
worshiper's kiss; they never respond
by friendly pressure to the respect
full touch of the visitor. There
has been an effort to give Leo XIII
a reputation for avarice. This is a
gratuitous calumny. Never has Pope
given more than Leo XIII accord
ing to his resources. He keeps moth
ing for himself and his way of living
is more like that of a country curate
than of prelate. 1t is lucky that
etiquette makes the Pope invariably
eat alone, for his guests would have
but meager cheer. His garments
cost him nothing; nuns make his
robes for him, and esteem it an es
pecial honor and privilege, and the
pious ladies of the whole world look
to it that his wardrobe is never lack.
ing in rich calotes of white silk, in
velvet shoes worked with gold thread
and in pirdles embroidered with his
arms. None of the money which
comes into his hands is kept by him
The dowry which he gave his favor
lite nephew, the handsome Camille
Pecci, scarcely amounted to 100000
francs. What grocer's son woulC
be satisfied with so little2 Blu
Leo XIII spends literally fol-
re- establishing the prestige O.
his court, for the fret
schools OF Rome, for the poor, anC
even for the Catholic press. The re
ligious journals register, day aftel
day, the liberality of Leo XIII il
cases of accidents, for churches
hospitals, etc. They remain silen
only concerning the subsidies which
he never refuses to journals whose
editors he likes, and who serve hi
policy with docility. His income il
not very large, The funds have {
triple origin. Plus TX left in tn.
pontifcal treasury capital which
yields an annual income Of about 8,
600, 900 francs. This capital is place.
in solid State bonds. 1t is purel.
for speculation that the holy fathe
subscribes so largely for Italian
loans. He resells the stocks as bes
he can, and puts the profits int
English consols. In an average
year St. Peters pence, although
muCu run uOWn, pTOuuOeo pun
nearly equal to the income iron
Plus ks capital. These 100000
francs constitute the regular bud
get of the ponti6cal state
The third source of revenu
is used for the extraordinary budget
1t comes from the profits of tn
Apostolic Chaucellery, and amount
to about 100000 francs annually
This is not too much for the spiritua
head of 200, o00,000 souls. Leo XII
wishes to leave behind the memor
OF great Pope. He wishes that thi
pontifcate, entirely spent within tn
Enclosure ola palace, this despoile'
pontifcate, may survive in visi61l
and durable works, and transmit tn
name OF the Pontiff to the admira
ton of posterity. The ceiling OF tn
hall of the Candelabra recites in fres
co the great events of the pontihcate
the apotheosis of St. Thoma
de Aquinas, over which Leo XII
presided-philosophy, history, belle
! ( .,1